Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE11185’

ABSTRACT

An  osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE11185’ particularly distinguished by dark red-purple disc florets, uniformly enlarged disc florets of the corolla, and very strong contrasting flower color, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE11185’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofosteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE11185’. The newvariety originated from a controlled cross conducted in the spring of2007 in Nairobi, Kenya. The female parent was osteospermum plant named‘KLEOE05116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,576), and the male parent wasosteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’ (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and asexualpropagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2008in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly byvegetative cuttings for three to four generations. The present inventionhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in thefollowing countries: Switzerland on Jun. 28, 2011, the European Union onJul. 7, 2011, Norway on Jul. 21, 2011 and Canada on Jan. 18, 2012.‘KLEOE11185’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than oneyear prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Dark red-purple disc florets;    -   2. Uniformly enlarged disc florets of the corolla; and    -   3. Very strong contrasting flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures.

The photograph was taken in spring 2011 on a 3-month old plant grown ina heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditions whichapproximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE11185’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2011 on6-month old plants grown in 12 centimeter pots. The plants were grown ina heated glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and pinched once atapproximately 16 weeks old. Color readings were taken under natural andartificial light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), FifthEdition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.        -   Denomination.—‘KLEOE11185’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE05116’ (U.S.            Plant Pat. No. 18,576).        -   Male parent.—Osteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial, usually cultivated as            an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil).—29.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescence).—19.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings from tips.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—14 to 16 weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 to 4 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color (both mature and immature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS            137B. Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches.—Approximately 15.        -   Length.—16.0 cm to 18.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.2 cm to 1.6 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            137A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to autumn.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—8 to 10.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 14            days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—4.8 cm to 5.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—3.0 cm to 3.2 cm.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—40 to 60.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 70B. Mature: RHS 70A.        -   Length.—1.2 cm to 1.5 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—0.18 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Apex color.—RHS N79B.        -   Base.—Fused to form a tube.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—21.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 76D with apex and margins tinted            RHS 71A. Lower surface: RHS 70B.        -   Length.—2.3 cm to 2.6 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—8.0 cm to 14.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.18 cm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—RHS 137D.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 21.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.15 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Base of the disc floret corolla.            Stamens: Quantity: 40 to 60. Shape: Filamentous. Color: RHS            N77A. Filament length: 0.5 cm. Filament diameter: 0.02 cm.            Anther: Shape: Elliptical. Color: RHS N77A. Length: 0.11 cm.            Diameter: 0.08 cm. Pollen: Color: RHS N13A. Amount: Sparse.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Base of the ray florets; stigmas in            disc florets are degenerated and non-functional. Pistils:            Number: 21. Length: 0.35 cm. Diameter: 0.02 cm. Stigma:            Color: RHS N77A. Shape: Bipartite. Length: 0.15 cm.            Diameter: 0.02 cm. Style: Color: RHS N77A. Length: 0.2 cm.            Diameter: 0.15 mm. Shape: Filamentous.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed.-   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No specific observations were    made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL VARIETIES

‘KLEOE11185’ differs from the female parental osteospermum plant‘KLEOE05116’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,576) in that ‘KLEOE11185’ hasuniformly enlarged disc florets of the corolla, whereas ‘KLEOE05116’ hasnormal size disc florets of the corolla.

‘KLEOE11185’ differs from the male parental osteospermum plant ‘Mutant1’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE11185’ has dark red-purple disc florets ofthe corolla that are uniformly enlarged, whereas ‘Mutant 1’ haspink-purple disc florets of the corolla that are partially enlarged.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of osteospermum plant named‘KLEOE11185’ as shown and described herein.